Thursday, November 24, 2011

The Wishbone

One of our traditions at Thanksgiving has always been to break a wishbone.

The one with the biggest half gets to make a wish.

I was thinking about this tradition that has been in both of our families for so many years. It is done in light hearted fun, with very little stock in that wish coming true. Why? - because we both come from families that put our "stock" or our faith in Christ. I read a little bit about the history of breaking the wishbone. It goes back to ancient times. There were people that believed they would have good fortune by getting the bigger half, while others felt that the breastbone was sacred and that they would have good luck, if permitted to stroke the bone. There are some strange beliefs and traditions that man has come up with over the years. The Bible references many traditions. The main thing I saw regarding traditions was this warning - Don't lay aside Gods' commandments to follow the traditions of man.

I'm so thankful we don't have to worry about getting the bigger half of a broken bone to receive the desires of our heart. I'm glad we don't need to rub a turkey's breastbone to find good fortune. Webster's dictionary defines a wish as a desire. It is clear in Psalm 37:3-5 how our wishes can come true.

Psalm 37: 3-5

3Trust in the LORD, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed. 4Delight thyself also in the LORD: and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart. 5Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.

Trust in the Lord...Do Good...Delight yourself in the Lord...Commit your ways unto Him...Trust in Him

Psalm 145 (KJV)

1I will extol thee, my God, O king; and I will bless thy name for ever and ever. 2Every day will I bless thee; and I will praise thy name for ever and ever. 3Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised; and his greatness is unsearchable. 4One generation shall praise thy works to another, and shall declare thy mighty acts. 5I will speak of the glorious honour of thy majesty, and of thy wondrous works. 6And men shall speak of the might of thy terrible acts: and I will declare thy greatness. 7They shall abundantly utter the memory of thy great goodness, and shall sing of thy righteousness. 8The LORD is gracious, and full of compassion; slow to anger, and of great mercy. 9The LORD is good to all: and his tender mercies are over all his works. 10All thy works shall praise thee, O LORD; and thy saints shall bless thee. 11They shall speak of the glory of thy kingdom, and talk of thy power; 12To make known to the sons of men his mighty acts, and the glorious majesty of his kingdom. 13Thy kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and thy dominion endureth throughout all generations. 14The LORD upholdeth all that fall, and raiseth up all those that be bowed down. 15The eyes of all wait upon thee; and thou givest them their meat in due season. 16Thou openest thine hand, and satisfiest the desire of every living thing. 17The LORD is righteous in all his ways, and holy in all his works. 18The LORD is nigh unto all them that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth. 19He will fulfilthe desire of them that fear him: he also will hear their cry, and will save them. 20The LORD preserveth all them that love him: but all the wicked will he destroy. 21My mouth shall speak the praise of the LORD: and let all flesh bless his holy name for ever and ever

Wow - what an amazing scripture! The Lord will hold us up when we are falling and raise us up when we bow down. He will feed us. He will open His hands and satisfy the desire of every living thing. That would include you, me and everyone and everything around us. He is righteous in all His ways - He is going to do right - always. He is holy (pure in heart, temper or disposition; free from sin and sinful affections - *from Websters) in His works - always. He is near to us when we call on Him in truth. Fear him and He will fulfill the desires of our heart. He will hear our cries and save us - always. He will keep us from injury or destruction and defend us from evil - always. We all have so much to be thankful for everyday. We were talking today at lunch, and Aunt Collette mentioned a friend of hers that had an ungrateful attitude recently. They were taking a challenge to say something they were thankful for each day through November. Her friend said, "I got nothing! - not one thing to be thankful for!" She said this or something like it several days. Ma-Maw, Aunt Collette and I were talking about so very many things we can give thanks for every moment right down to the air we breathe. Always remember to have a thankful heart and remember not to put your hope or trust in anything else, but only in the Lord. He is the one that gives us reason to have thanks! Happy Thanksgiving - I love you all!

By the Way - Becca's First Pumpkin Pie was A-M-A-Z-I-N-G!!!! Awesome Job Beckidy Boo!